Back in Christchurch

We drove back to Christchurch last week so there will be no banding for a few weeks until we go back down to Queenstown at the end of the month.


I had one last short session at the stream before leaving, only caught 9 birds, 7 new Redpolls 1 new Goldfinch and a recap Yellowhammer.

The Goldfinch, an adult female having the indignity of having its weight taken.

The recap Yellowhammer also an adult female that was banded several months ago up near the house.

During the 10 days or so of the trip I caught 104 birds, 79 new of 8 species and 25 recaps of 4 species. House Sparrows and Redpolls dominated the catch with a sprinkling of other Finches and some Dunnocks. Interestingly no larger birds like Blackbird, Song Thrush or Starling were caught, there were a few about but none found the nets.